The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-11-24
How Mexican Girls Make Mashes.

Many interesting stories could be
told of the cascarOne balls of the past,
but only one will be mentioned as an
instance of the popularity of this pc
euliar feature of the balls. On one
occasion, at ball given at the resi-
dence of Don Jose Abrego, in Mon
terey, Cal, Pete Serrano, then a
muchacho, was on hand selling cas-
carones. A gentleman approached
and asked what he would take for his
cascarones.
''One dollar a dozen,". was the an
swer.
"How many have you?" was the
next inquiry.
Forty dozen"
''All right, I'll take them"
Taking the basket he started down
the hall, but had not taken a dozen
steps when he was surrounded by a
number of young ladies, and in a mo-
ment all hands were diving into the
basket, coming out with double hand
fuls and crashing them on his head,
while he manfully strove to return a
few of the compliments he received.
In five minutes not one of the forty
dozen cascarones remained whole.
making is very simple, and about as
follows: Into an empty eggshell-
whole, except for an opening in one
end just large enough to remove the
original contents-is placed about a
teaspoonful of finely chopped paper of
various bright colors and gold tinsel;
then the opening is neatly closed by
pasting piece of colored paper over
it, and then the cascarone is all ready
for use. In Mexico, in the good old
times. gold dust mixed with diamond
dust was often used to fill the egg
shells at the swell fandangoes given by
the old grandees. And it is done oc-
casionally nowadays by some of the
wealthy old dons who wish TO do the
thing up in style.
Another way of filling the shells was
to use finely perfumed powder, and
sometimes rare and costly perfumes
We're used. Very often the shells were
beautifully decorated and sometimes
hand-painted. In Monterey, before the
decline of the custom. the shells were
often colorcd in fanciful designs, like
Easter eggs, and at other times taste
fully decorated with different colors
of paper. Chopped paper and tinsel
were usually put into the shells, but
Oh more than one occasion gold dol
lar pieces were used-onc in each she'll
Spiced candy was often used, and
sometimes powder and perfumery.
Housewives religiously save the smells
of all the eggs they use and put them
away until cascarOne season comes
around.
In cascarone breaking it is not nee
essary that one should he acquainted
in fact, it is 4 sort of .smashing" pro-
ceeding all through. The act of break
ing cascarone on another's head is to
be considered compliment by the
recipient, who is in honor bound to re-
turn it the first opportunity. The
proper way to break them is to crush
the shell in the hand over the persons
head, allowing its contents to fall on
the head. In the excitement, however,
tie shell is more frequently broken on
the head, regardless of locality or force
used, and is oftcntimes suggestive of
anything but amiable feeling on the
part of the bestOwer. When the ice is
broken by some adventurous maiden
or plucky man the contagion soon
spreads, and in very snort time
everyb body is chasing around the room
breaking cascarOnes indiscriminately
and receiving them from all sides.
These mock battles usually occur be-
tween dances.